Oregon Historical County Records Guide

Multnomah County Records Inventory

Circuit Court Case Files

1855-1987

Series documents cases heard before the circuit courts and the U.S. district
courts. U.S. district courts were administered by the federal government
during the territorial period and subsequently replaced by the circuit courts
upon statehood in 1859. Case files include exhibits, transcripts, indexes,
and legal documents such as indictments, subpoenas, fee bills, articles
of agreement, bonds, summons, executions, petitions, and injunctions. The
case files document civil and criminal actions such as debt, theft, divorce,
land claims, arson, murder, rape, assault and battery, and boundary conflicts.
Circuit court records continue after 1983 under authority of the state and
are maintained by the trial court administrator. Circuit court records have
been inventoried through 1983. For information on more recent court records,
contact the trial court administrator. Portions of these records may be
restricted.